A sidewalk and steam grate level view of homelessness in Baltimore, Maryland; with an attempt to emphasize the "UP" side of 'Life On The Streets', those 'Random Acts Of Kindness' that enable me to survive another day as I battle demons both Psychological and Chemical. Also my theraputic journal, and rants, raves, and ramblings.***COMMENTS WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED***FEEDBACK IS GOOD*** or E-mail me at d_funkwriter@hotmail.com

Quotation of the Day

Sunday, November 18, 2012

So......Thursday's individual meetings at HCH (Health Care for the Homeless) with my S.S.A. caseworker and my mental health caseworker ended up being pretty damn emotionally intense and also productive. We are still in the beginning stages of our professional relationships and luckily I feel comfortable enough to establish a bond of trust that allows me to open up with them.Usually the process of developing medical case histories and answering questions about past and present events, emotional and mental states, physical histories, etc., etc., etc., is longer and slower as limits are reached (and hopefully exceeded), and trust is earned. I feel such an honest interest and compassion in Margaret and Sean and a rapidly increasing rapport that has allowed me to reveal more intimate details in less time than I normally would have done.

Part of the information will be useful in presenting the S.S.I. case, and all of it will be germane when I see the psychiatrist. And to paraphrase a thing they say in N.A., "with time-- more will be revealed". And I'm counting on this going two ways, because after years of hearing the echoes and reverberations of some of the crap the 'voices in my head'.. (both my own and the seemingly infinite tape loops of other's comments I have not been able to let go of [for a whole shitload of reasons that I'm not going into here!]..).. have been repeating I'm getting to the point where, well.... 'Somethings Gotta Give' as Sammy Davis Jr. says!:

But seriously, it was a fruitful day at HCH, even though when I left there I felt like I had been used as a tackling dummy for the Ravens as they practiced for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh....that had been made up to look like Big Ben Roethlisberger!I decided to go to JAI on Friday, since it was past 12:30 pm. when I got out of HCH. I just came back to the apartment, fed the cat and myself, then just chilled out.

I walked down to the Safeway for bread and milk that evening and ended up puttering around in the food store until my hip and back ached, but I ended up getting over $50.00 worth of food for $17.00...I love double coupons, Club Card discounts, and the Meat Clearance shelf & the 'scratch and dent' rack, plus a bunch of 'in store bakery' cake slices were reduced from $3.99 to $0.99, some almost a whole 1/4 of an 11" round cake!I love having (even temporary use of) a refrigerator!!!...LOL!(yEAh!! StiLL On tHaT sUGar HIgh!...........lol!!)

Friday I met Evan at the City Paper to get the balance of the check for this weeks column:

After leaving there I went to JAI to get the paperwork for D.S.S. filled out, and to get my right knee looked at. (I am still dealing with pain from the fall at the Giant..2 months? ago?...damn time flies sometime, I've lost count!)...and a new script for blood pressure meds. When I got there the receptionist told me my Doctor was booked and overbooked and there was no guarantee I would even be seen. Instead of waiting 4 hours for probably nothing She suggested I come back Monday by 8:30 am and get in line and sign in, and since I did not need a full exam etc. I could most likely be seen between appointments fairly early.Which I plan to do then head directly to D.S.S. and get a signed and stamped receipt for the paperwork as I hand it directly to the caseworker, and NOT! 'customer service'..(HA!).

Tomorrow, Sunday....(no...it's Today already!)....I am going to speak to the 5th and 6th grade students, (and I think their parents were invited too.....yikes!), at Beth El Synagogue's Sunday School program on homelessness and poverty, I've got to get up by 6:00 am. to catch the bus/train/bus to meet a ride for the rest of trip.....and of course, I'm not sleepy now. I will be good practice for Monday, When I have to do basically the same journey to D.S.S.

Anyway, I better try to get a few hours sleep, if my nerves will let me. All the introductions and arrangements have been by e-mail, and I know NONE of the principals, except Evan from the City Paper, who knows the Rabbi from CJE, who spoke to the kids previously, and after seeing my column and his story back when he was Editor of Baltimore Magazine, suggested me to the school's staff and their Rabbi, who contacted me......yeah.... I'm dizzy too.....lol.

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ANTI-DISCLAIMER!!!

Well, after about 7 years of bureaucratic hell, I AM now receiving SSI, thus the removal of the disclaimer that used to occupy this space.....lol!

SUPPORT THE ARTS & HELP A HOMELESS GUY

Hi..I'm trying to make a few legitimate dollars without panhandling. See my post from May 7 th 2009, titled: "It's Just This Little Chromium Switch Here....or...Whattya Mean.....OOOPS!!!.." I'm attempting to sell a self-published book of poetry. It is only a Xeroxed and stapled chapbook that I do on my own at the Kinko's, but the content is some of my best and my favorite pieces..(not always the same, I'm told...LOL). I'm not looking to get rich or gouge anyone, but if you want to be a part of 'MY' Economic Stimulus Package, you'll actually get some value for your money, in the form of creative content imprinted on paper with a substance called 'ink'...(ask your grandparents..about something they used to call a 'book'). My suggested asking price is $10.00 ($15.00 if I pay postage) but more will not be refused...lol, and to be perfectly honest, if you've been reading this little blog, I think you would not be offended if I said that anything else you wished to add over and above, would be gratefully appreciated. If not, the blog is still free...enjoy....Dave

About Me

I'm a 55 yr.old W.M., A separated father of an incredible 7 old daughter, due to circumstances of health both physical and mental, and the wonders of American and Maryland Social Service and Healthcare bureaucracy I am currently living on the streets, I am unable to find work, within my present abilities that will enable me to afford a place to live, so I do what I can, when I can, where I can for who I can. I chose not to go out and make the easy money available by illegal means so I would stand on the corner of the I83 expressway ramp with a sign requesting help in finding a place to live in exchange for work/services and I accept any and all donations anyone wishes to give, (money, food, clothing, and advice). I have not been out there for about 2 years now, living on the $185.00 a month TDAP and $185.00 in Foodstamps from Social Services I am eligible for while my S.S.I. claim is pending. I also pick up what I can when I can however I can by any legal means necessary. But that is not the reason for this blog..it's free in all ways....read..enjoy...think..comment!
E-Mail me... d_funkwriter@hotmail.com